Turn that love of animals into a thriving business
ALEX MEEs turned her love of pets into a successful business — and has lots of fun while she’s at it.
Alex, a former healthcare company manager, has been running the Petpals petcare f r anchise in Basingstoke, Hants, since 2016.
she says: ‘It really is a lot of fun. For example, Jynx, a springer spaniel I’ve been looking after ever since he was a puppy, is obsessed with chasing shadows.
‘He just can’t work out where shadows come from, so if it is a sunny day, he sits and watches, then pounces on them, and it makes me laugh every time.’
Alex adds: ‘ With this franchise I can now spend far more time with my eight-year- old son, but at the same time I’m building a business that in the future I can sell on as part of a national brand.’
‘After being in business for a year, I now have my regular customers and spend my days walking dogs and visiting cats and other small caged and furry animals in my branded Petpals van, which is a mobile marketing aid.’
Kevin Thakrah, managing director of Petpals, says: ‘We look for people who not only love animals and their sometimes surprising little quirks, but who also have business savvy, and are happy selling their services. If you have not done this before, don’t worry, we provide full training’. A Petpals franchise costs £12,500.
Brad Eggleston, North East Fife, Dundee and Angus franchisee with Barking Mad Dog Care, says: ‘I have a life-long love of dogs, so when I wanted to set up a business, petcare was an obvious choice.’ Barking Mad franchise es arrange dog holiday care with host families as an alternative to kennels.
‘I could have set up in business alone but one benefit of a franchise is the national marketing by the franchisor. Barking Mad has just won the award for Best sitter in the Dog Friendly Awards 2017, and that his helpful as I can use it in marketing my service,’ says Brad.
The franchise costs £13,900, plus extra for marketing materials, vehicle and insurance. Petpals, 01264 326362; Barking Mad, 03333 444972.